An OEM bullshiitin' real world range? never heard of that before... .
I agree. 12 - 13 hours. Whatever kind of mileage you can get out of that is your range. And you better be hoping that all those forecasts of ISA minus temps and big tailwinds are accurate.
PANC is a 30min turn, weather is rarely an issue, customs is usually very quick, etc...it just makes sense..
And it is an opportunity to do a crew swap. Plus, no customs on the outbout to ZBAA.
Stretching it home is no joy either - remember you need to clear customs. What is the weather goes down, delays etc...where can you go last minute where customs wont make a huge issue of it....if Newark you have to go to Albany..etc..
Customs being one of the key factors here. Obviously if you are inbound over the US there are plenty of places to land. You will still look like a jackass to the boss for telling him you were going non-stop and then landing in Astabula, OH to get fuel. But your real problems begin when customs shows up.
Having seen more than a few heroes try various versions of this it usually falls apart in the last few days (their balls get smaller) and causes way more headaches than ever worth.
Just another case of pilots making this job far more complex than it need be.
I'm lucky...I don't know anyone like that
One more consideration is that the Chinese are fond of keeping you on airways and at lower altitudes.
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